S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, New York, November 15th 2009

Natasha stared at all the evidence spread out in front of her on the coffee table. Newspaper articles, photos, police reports, bullets and scrap metal seemed to stare at her, waiting for her to admit what she didn't want too. Off to her right, a bulletin board was hung on the wall, a map of Russia occupying most of its space, while red pins were placed on various cities on it. The file closest to her was open and the photo of yet another dead businessman was on display, mocking her.

She let out a sigh and buried her face in her hands. Things were not turning out the way she wanted them to. Even though there seemed to be no connection to the events mentioned in the articles, to Natasha's trained eyes they told the story of her old home, the home she thought she had left behind, but now it seemed like it was coming on stronger than before. She knew what needed to be done, but she would have to inform her superiors first. Heck, she hadn't even told her partner yet. And she planned not to; it was something that she needed to do alone. She stood up from the white couch in her room and headed towards the Director's office.

She walked down endless corridors, passed through countless doors and passed by many agents on her way. When she finally reached the Director's office she paused just outside the door. She took a deep breath and knocked two times, waiting for what seemed like eternity.

''Enter'', a deep voice finally replied from the other sided and Natasha stepped inside the vast office. Director Fury looked up from some papers on his desk when the door was pulled shut. ''Agent Romanoff, what do you want?''

Natasha went straight to the point. ''I need permission to go on a solo mission, sir.''

Fury stared at her with his one good eye. He let his papers down and stood up. ''And why would that be?''

She took a deep breath. ''Over the past four months I have been gathering evidence that point out that the Red Room Academy is still running under a new name, 2R. I looked between the lines of some accidents and deaths in Russia and found that they look a lot like Red Room cases. I also searched in Russian orphanages' files and found many missing reports on girls between the ages 5-7. I need to look further into the case, sir.'' She stared at him intently, not moving a muscle, waiting for his response.

He considered the information he had just been given, walking in front of his desk. After a few moments he stared back at her. ''If I told you to take three agents with you, what would you say?'', he asked.

''Let me remind you, sir, that when I first came in for training I took out five of your agents in under thirty seconds. We're talking about a number of at least sixty girls here, sir. I wouldn't want to risk the lives of any fellow agents on this, if, of course, I am right.'' And inside her, she was praying she was wrong, she was praying that all of it was just a sick coincidence, that her mind was just overreacting.

''You don't even want to take agent Barton for back-up?'', he pressed on.

Natasha noticed her hands balling up into fists. She wouldn't risk losing her one good ally to her old family. ''No one, sir. Believe me, it's for the best.''

Their staring contest seemed to go on forever until Fury spoke again. ''You leave in three days. Inform anyone you think should be informed and gear up. I guess you'd like this mission to stay off the books?''

She nodded. ''Until it's done, yes. I want it to be an absolute secret. Good evening, Director.'' She turned on her heel to leave the room, but her boss's voice stopped her just before she could turn the doorknob.

''Agent Romanoff?''. She stayed still, waiting for what he would say next. ''You think, now that you left, that the Red Room is targeting you?''

Natasha closed her eyes. She had dreaded this moment. Did she really believe it? Was she afraid? But she had promised that she would be honest with herself. ''Yes.'' And with that she left the office.

…

On her last day in the Headquarters, Natasha was packing anything that she would need. That included clothes, toiletries and guns. She needed a duffle only for her coats. A big suitcase was filled with all her gear; her Widow's Bite, her guns with dozens of clips to change and com devices to communicate with the base.

She had mentioned her mission to two people: Director Fury and her handler, agent Coulson. To the first because she needed his permission to leave in the first place, and to the second because he would arrange her transportation with the outmost secrecy. She felt really guilty for not telling Clint about this mission, but she knew that if she told him he would like to come, and she couldn't have that. This was something she needed to do alone.

She had thought that the Red Room was brought to the ground after she left. But it seemed like it was a great asset to the KGB, too precious to get rid of. So they went on, taking young girls that they thought wouldn't be missed and turning them to master assassins. Sometimes taking out their parents themselves to take them. Oh, they had destroyed so many lives, they had brainwashed so many girls, they had killed so many people... Natasha had lost everything because of them, not just her home and her life, but her best friend, as well…

Just as she was ready to get to bed there was a knock on her door. Confused, she went to open it, seeing a junior agent on the threshold. ''Letter for agent Romanoff''. He handed her an envelope and left running down the corridor.

Natasha closed the door and went to sit on the bed, studying the envelope. It was just an ordinary stationary envelope, addressed to one Natalia Romanova and sent to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secure address. The information on the back was written in Russian. Curiosity peaked, she ripped open the envelope and took out its contents: a small card advertising a cafeteria in Moscow. Natasha's eyebrows shot up in surprise. What the hell was that all about? But then she turned the card over.

Her eyes widened in shock. Then narrowed in disbelief. But then horror filled her face at the realization of what exactly she was seeing. The small card left her hands and dropped on the floor, the back facing Natasha. She took one last look at it and shot out of the door like a bullet; running down the corridor and rapping with her fist on a metal door at the end of it.

Before long Clint Barton opened the door, looking at her through narrowed eyes due to the lighting in the corridor. ''Jeez, Nat, do you know what time is it?'' But then his fury was replaced with concern as he took another look at his partner. She was shaking badly and seemed to be on the verge of tears. He had never seen her like that, so emotionally vulnerable. ''Nat, are you alright?''

She pulled at his hands. ''Come with me.'' She led him towards the opposite direction she had been running and pushed him inside her bedroom. He took in the assortment of bags and gear spread around the room. He also noticed Natasha looking at the floor like it would open up at any second and they would drop down. Looking at the direction she was looking, he noticed the small card lying on the floor.

Clint picked up the card and stared at the beautiful blue butterfly that was drawn on it.